How Upper-Class Income in 1990 Compares to 2025
Written by
Brooke Barley
Edited by
Zuri Anderson
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It’s no question that the United States has experienced major inflation in the past 35 years.
Using the U.S. Inflation Calculator, an item that cost $100 in 1990 would cost $248.51 today. That’s a cumulative inflation rate of 148.5%. Since 1990, the workforce has changed.
“In 1990, the upper-class earned most of their money by more traditional means by way of corporate payments, property and stocks with blue-chip companies,” explained Chad Silver, tax attorney, CEO and founder of Silver Tax Group. “In 2025 the high society is quite different. The sources of revenue include technology projects, venture capital and/or hedge funds, and/or digital properties.”
With those different careers comes different lifestyles. How do the salaries of the 1990 upper class and today’s upper class differ? Here’s a dive into the numbers of what a traditional upper class salary of the ’90s got you in comparison to the 2025 elite.
How Much Did the Upper Class of 1990 Make?
If you were part of the upper crust in 1990, Ravi Parikh, the CFO of Parikh Financial said that a household income of $150,000 was enough to be considered wealthy. GOBankingRates previously reported that $150,000 would be considered upper middle class today.
“In 2025, you need a household income of $500,000 plus to be called wealthy,” Parikh said. “You have more tech-driven people in this category. The investments include private equity and global investments.”
What Were the Upper Class Jobs in 1990?
In order to be making $150,000 or more in 1990, Parikh said there were a few typical career paths.
“The 1990s wealthy were corporate executives, doctors, bankers, lawyers, and those managing family businesses,” he added.
He noted that in 2025, the path to wealth is not always as linear as it was in the ’90s.
“The 2025 wealthy class is more self-made, with people becoming tech founders, venture capitalists and hedge fund managers. Even CEOs of large corporations are classified as wealthy in 2025. Influencers dominate the wealthy class in 2025. You will find fewer traditional professionals.”
How Is the ’90s Upper Class Lifestyle Different from 2025?
Think of a movie from 1990 portraying rich people and you’re not far off from what it was actually like.
“The 1990s wealthy owned vacation houses and luxury cars,” Parikh said. “They used to live in gated communities, studied at legacy universities and frequented country clubs. The 2025 wealthy class flies in private jets and cruises around in mega-yachts. They have a global real estate portfolio, and their children study in elite schools worldwide. They live in houses dominated by digital luxury, such as AI and smart homes.”
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